‘step in stone’ – Salisbury Arts Centre, 18 August–4 September

‘step in stone’, a unique art event involving fourteen leading local and international artists, is touring to Salisbury Arts Centre this summer.

During the summer of 2015 the step in stone artists created a series of site-specific artworks in response to the nature of quarries and their place in the environmental, cultural and industrial heritage of the region. Installed in six venues (three disused and working quarries and three related indoor exhibitions), and staged in three ‘steps’, the quarries’ natural history, ecology and geology inspired works in surprising forms. The extraordinary artscapes gave over 8,000 visitors a free opportunity to encounter contemporary artworks while exploring the spectacular, wild landscapes of abandoned and working quarries in rural East Mendip. Open to the public and schools through a range of community events, workshops, talks, walks, competitions and exhibitions, the project was funded by Arts Council England/National Lottery and other organisations.

All the artists involved, from as far away as Norway and Australia, had connections with the South West of England.

The exhibition to be shown at Salisbury Arts Centre from 18 August to 24 September tells the story of this unique event. Selected work by Artmusic, Catherine Bloomfield, Bronwen Bradshaw, Duncan Cameron, Fiona Campbell (Curator), Duncan Elliot, Tessa Farmer, Stuart Frost, Suzie Gutteridge, Ralph Hoyte, Sally Kidall, Caroline Sharp, Amanda Wallwork and Christina White includes sculpture, poetry, textiles, sound, drawing, photography, painting, printmaking and land art ranging from the intimate to the extravagant. Visitors will discover evil skeletal fairies, natural history works in crafted cabinets, weavings from natural materials, a talking rock and much more! www.stepinstone-somerset.co.uk.